Interested in a 1992 Sunsport. Need opinions.

[Zim]

Always fun docking these things. Whenever I'm at a ramp, I make sure the dock is on my port side so when I come off the trailer, I know I have extra room to maneuver around. I never pull straight to the dock, I usually just back up enough that I can swing the front around and start driving away from the ramp, then position myself to come into the dock on my starboard side. I run a straight 45* angle straight into the dock on the starboard side of the bow, and slowly bump the throttle in and out of gear to keep speeds down, but to keep the boat going in the direction you want it to go. Once you get about 6 feet from the dock, give it some power in reverse and it sucks the boat right up against the dock. Practice that a few times and you'll be a pro in no time haha.

[Sirgonz]

Always fun docking these things. Whenever I'm at a ramp, I make sure the dock is on my port side so when I come off the trailer, I know I have extra room to maneuver around. I never pull straight to the dock, I usually just back up enough that I can swing the front around and start driving away from the ramp, then position myself to come into the dock on my starboard side. I run a straight 45* angle straight into the dock on the starboard side of the bow, and slowly bump the throttle in and out of gear to keep speeds down, but to keep the boat going in the direction you want it to go. Once you get about 6 feet from the dock, give it some power in reverse and it sucks the boat right up against the dock. Practice that a few times and you'll be a pro in no time haha.

LOL all that makes sense on paper and in my head.... add current and wind and kids talking and people fishing off boat ramp dock and then put it all in motion while trying to not hold everyone behind you up.... LOL I'll learn I have only had the boat like 1.5 weeks and been out only 5 or 6 times now

[Zim]

LOL all that makes sense on paper and in my head.... add current and wind and kids talking and people fishing off boat ramp dock and then put it all in motion while trying to not hold everyone behind you up.... LOL I'll learn I have only had the boat like 1.5 weeks and been out only 5 or 6 times now

Tell the kids to pipe down while daddy parks the boat.. or just throw them overboard Aso for the fisherman, just use the dock as if they weren't there. They're not supposed to be there anyway, if their line gets chopped up your prop, that's their deal. The current and wind will just take practice. Just realize that you have no steering in reverse, and the only time you have steering going forward is when the prop is pushing water past the rudder. You cant coast in and turn the rudder and expect any sort of responsive handling with a v/direct drive boat. Learning to bump the throttle into forward and neutral and back into forward and back into neutral is imperative for driving this style boat. It lets you keep your speeds down, and also lets you to have steering control. Good luck.. keep going after it!

[trayson]

Here's how you read your serial # plate using the example plate above: PLD-WV-R20

The L following the P indicates the ENGINE rotation. In this case, left hand rotation.

The R following the V indicates the PROP SHAFT rotation. In this case, right hand.

Now to determine HP.

If you have a model PL&RD you have the "standard" 5.8L @ 240hp (This is the one in the example)
If you have a model PL&RP you have the "Pro Boss" @285hp

Continuous RPM for either is 3600 rpm's
Max depends on which one you have. 4400 for std and 4800 for Pro Boss

89 octane min.
idle speed 650-700 rpm's

If you let me know which one, I can tell you other things...

Okay, I keep getting confused with rotation because it affects what kind of alternators and starters I'd be looking at.

Is my engine CW or CCW?

[kvand347]

Okay, I keep getting confused with rotation because it affects what kind of alternators and starters I'd be looking at.

Is my engine CW or CCW?

Not sure if this helps, but you have a LEFT hand or "Standard" rotation engine.

[trayson]

Not sure if this helps, but you have a LEFT hand or "Standard" rotation engine.

This seems to help. I guess it matters what you're talking about when you're talking about LR/RH CW/CCW.

http://www.ebasicpower.com/faq/rotate.htm

[sybrmike]

Like Zim said, v/direct drives are a different beast at low speeds. Spend some time practicing the throttle bump. Two useful moves are the sidewalk and pirouette.

For the sidewalk, at a dead stop, turn the wheel all the way to the right (starboard), then alternately bump the throttle forward and reverse. The nose will push to starboard in forward, and the stern will pull starboard in reverse. With a little practice on the timing, you can "walk" the boat sideways to starboard.

To turn around in tight spaces, it's best to concede that you're gonna turn left (port), and perform a pirouette. Again from a dead stop, but turn the wheel all the way left and alternately bump the throttle forward/reverse. With patience, it'll look like you're spinning the boat on the ski pylon.

Good luck, she's a real beaut!

[trayson]

Always fun docking these things. Whenever I'm at a ramp, I make sure the dock is on my port side so when I come off the trailer, I know I have extra room to maneuver around. I never pull straight to the dock, I usually just back up enough that I can swing the front around and start driving away from the ramp, then position myself to come into the dock on my starboard side. I run a straight 45* angle straight into the dock on the starboard side of the bow, and slowly bump the throttle in and out of gear to keep speeds down, but to keep the boat going in the direction you want it to go. Once you get about 6 feet from the dock, give it some power in reverse and it sucks the boat right up against the dock. Practice that a few times and you'll be a pro in no time haha.

Like Zim said, v/direct drives are a different beast at low speeds. Spend some time practicing the throttle bump. Two useful moves are the sidewalk and pirouette.

For the sidewalk, at a dead stop, turn the wheel all the way to the right (starboard), then alternately bump the throttle forward and reverse. The nose will push to starboard in forward, and the stern will pull starboard in reverse. With a little practice on the timing, you can "walk" the boat sideways to starboard.

To turn around in tight spaces, it's best to concede that you're gonna turn left (port), and perform a pirouette. Again from a dead stop, but turn the wheel all the way left and alternately bump the throttle forward/reverse. With patience, it'll look like you're spinning the boat on the ski pylon.

Good luck, she's a real beaut!

Both great techniques. I like. And thanks for the compliments. I can't wait to get some decals on to make it my own with some personalization!

[kvand347]

This seems to help. I guess it matters what you're talking about when you're talking about LR/RH CW/CCW.

http://www.ebasicpower.com/faq/rotate.htm

I see what you are talking about now. You have LH rotation of the flywheel (ccw). According to the link, your belts will then rotate clockwise. My advice would be to hop in the boat and bump the motor to make sure your alternator goes cw. Then call the vendor to verify which alternator you need.

[trayson]

Okay, I finally got my graphics on the boat!!!

May I present to you the "STORMTROOPER". Obviously inspired by the black and white color scheme. (and the fact that I'm a Star Wars geek made it even more fun).



As you might be able to tell, all the lettering is done in the "Star Jedi" font, including the registration numbers.